Shero expecting to keep all nine defensemen after April 3rd trade deadline when rosters expand

Share this:

The Penguins currently have 13 forwards, 8 defensemen and 2 goaltenders on their active roster with Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang on injured reserve.

Penguins GM Ray Shero talked today of the luxury of having an unlimited roster after April 3rd.

Once Letang returns healthy, the Penguins will have nine defensemen but due to the unlimited team rosters expanding after the deadline, Pittsburgh could keep all nine defensemen on the roster going down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Shero spoke today expecting all nine defenseman to stay saying the guys on D here now as the ones he expects here after the April 3rd trade deadline when the rosters expand.

The player in flux has been Robert Bortuzzo, a healthy scratch for 12 straight games. He has fallen to No. 9 on the depth chart and would like a regular opportunity, but the Penguins remain very intrigued about his upside and expect to keep him around, despite teams calling about him.

If Letang or Malkin returns this week, one option for the Penguins could be to send down Beau Bennett or Simon Despres. Despres and Bennett are the only Penguins who don’t need to clear waivers.

Shero said in acquiring Murray, the Penguins were looking for that “physical edge”, while also praising his character.

Murray won’t play tomorrow night vs the Montreal Canadiens but should make his debut Thursday night vs the Jets.

Trade Buzz: Thursday’s 1-for-1 trade of young underperforming players saw the Minnesota Wild acquire center Victor Rask from the Carolina Hurricanes for left winger Nino Niederreiter. Carolina did an excellent job of being able to get out of the Rask contract, who has three years remaining with a $4 million cap hit. Rask has 1 goal, 5 assists on the season, mirrored in a 22-game goal drought. The logic here for Minnesota is taking the chance on a playmaking center who can help fill a top-9 spot longer term if the Wild move on from Eric Staal. Minnesota is also playing the card that a change of scenery will benefit the 24-year old who posted a career-high 21 goals, 48 points in 2015-2016.

Niederreiter’s trade value was stunted because of his contract, where he has three years left on his deal with a $5.25 million cap hit. Niederreiter is a player who is extremely hard to play against, drives possession well, and has three 20 goal seasons over his last four full seasons. Injuries (18 goals in 63 games) kept him from a 4th straight 20-goal season in 17-18. The Niederreiter acquisition also sets up as great insurance for the Hurricanes if they can’t resign Micheal Ferland. In the short-term, Carolina’s center situation is a mess with Jordan Staal sidelined with a concussion, but they’re getting the better player who fits the identity they’re trying to establish upfront, especially on the wings where they’ve identified the need for Patric Hornqvist type players.